Courts / Tipperary / Report

Jury rejects "self defence" claim and convicts Outram of beating 90-year-old farmer to death

Date
2019-03-08

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Clonmel

Summary

Ross Outram, aged 28, was found guilty of murdering 90‑year‑old retired farmer Paddy Lyons, who was discovered dead in his own home. A jury of eight men and four women rejected Outram's claim that he struck Lyons in self‑defence after the pensioner, who had osteoporosis and only one arm, allegedly attacked him with a stick. The trial heard that Lyons' body lay slumped in his armchair, with blood smeared on his face and his penis exposed through his underpants. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Lyons suffered multiple blows to his head and neck from a blunt weapon, with fractures of his hip joint, jawbone and ribs. Outram, who has 25 previous convictions including burglary and assault, was sentenced to life imprisonment, the mandatory term for murder, with the sentence back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The court noted that the jury had taken three hours and 29 minutes to reach a unanimous verdict. The unnamed 28-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury rejects "self defence" claim and convicts Outram of beating 90-year-old farmer to death. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Lyons at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co Waterford, at a time unknown between February 23 and 26, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

February 23 Hearing Or Sentence
February 27 Hearing Or Sentence
February 24 Hearing Or Sentence
February 25 Incident
February 26 Other
2019-03-08 Publication

Why: Ms Fennessy explained that Mr Lyons was the oldest man in their village and he was a "very friendly and trusting man". CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 28-year-old

Defendant

Charges: murdering Mr Lyons at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co Waterford, at a time unknown between February 23 and 26, 2017 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Ross Outram has been jailed for life after a jury today found him guilty of murdering 90-year-old retired farmer Paddy Lyons, who has found beaten to death in his own home. Mr Justice Coffey then sentenced Outram to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder.